National Republican., 1887-01-04
FIFTEEN AMERICAN CITIES

Exposed 60 the Attacks OF Hostile
Fleets--"Coid- -BIooded seiHshness OF
PhiiadeIphia''-Our Weak Position as
n Neutral Power.
The New York Herald yesterday contained
the following very forciblc and suggestive
leading editorial, entitled philadelphia
Blocks the way.''
From armed INVASION" Capt Il. v. Greene,
OF the engineers writes In the current number
OF Scrf0ntrs Mdgd-ine I'VE arc secure, and in
nation But he poiuts out that we have more
great cities lying near the water and exposed
to the attacks OF hostile fleets than any and
perhaps all European nations.
ave alone OF all the nations Of the world
have series OF great cities on our ocean coasts.
II is doubtful II all the nations OF Europe COM
bin.d have as many liyes and as much prop.
have, since all their cities arc inland. Yet we
have absolutely no means OF defense"
These are Capt. Greene's words, He makes
list OF fifteen American cities with nn aggre-
gate population of nearly FIVE and quarter
miilions-about an eleventh OF our total popu-
!ntlon-with property valuation Of over four
thousand millions aud an annual product in
manufactures alone of good deal more than
one thousand Millions all, he remarks, subject
TO destruction or to ransom TO avert it. from
any hrst, second, or even third class European
We notice that Capt. Greene places philadel-
phia, the city of Mr.. Randall in his list of ex-
pb3sned cities, and we take leave 70 correct him.
sea as London; and that is apparently the
reason why the Philadelphians Mr. Raudall's
constituents, selhshly oppose harbor defense.
themselves they would undoubtedly, aud they
could easily compel Mr.. Randall TO vote any
number OF millions required for harbor de-
city which has become wealthy by the protec-
tonist policy-by lyvyiDg tribute, that Is to
say, on all the rest OF the county for Its own
proft-now opposes moderate aud necessary
appropriation for the protection OF defcnseless
ports, Philadelphlans feeling themselves ex-
empt from danger
IL is sometimes asserted that we are so
essentially peaceful country that unless we
misbehaye no one will ever attack us. But
the position OF neutral In. the case of
q great European war, such as is now
threatening, would be ours and IL is, as
every reader of history knows, one pccu-
liarly liable to sudden attacks nom both
oombatants. As neutrals we should build
both would inevitably try. to bully us. It is
for such a contingency as this that we need to
nave our harbors and cities put In n condi
be able to do us sudden and very great dam
age or coerce us in way uncomfortable TO be
thought Of But our Philadelphia neighbors
90 not care about foreign trade; they are for
laws to compel all Americans to trade with
them and their city alone among our great
seaboard cities Is by Its situation safe against
attack from the sen. Hence they allow their
fayorite representative, Mr. Randall to bar the
way to appropriations for harbor defense.
~ was not because they meant to go to war
with anybody, but because they perfectly COM
pretended the dangers of neutrality that the
Democratic party, during their long tenure of
OF power before the war. gave money, aud
much more money In proportion than is now
asked, during a series OF years for the defense
of our exposed ports and cities. It was under
Democratic rule that u complete plan for the
defense OF our coasts was first made, adopted.
and for many years patiently carried out.
Capt. Greene Gays Gen. Totem estimates made
In 1916 and 1926 called for an expenditure of
sixteen and half millions, "a sum which,
gauged by the annual expenditures then aud
now,' says Capt Greene, 'ls equivalent to over
three hundred millions today
But in those days the Democratic party was
alive; It was not afraid to do its duty to the
by the cold blooded selflshncss OF the people
Of the only. great city we have which lies near
she rnstys sea snd safe against sudden and de-
1t Is not nice attitude which Philadelphia
thus takes toward the rest OF the country.
She has become rich by levying tribute on the
whole Union, and now, with an amazing
anie o se eoPps pUss Tpe ppsdS o @e
New York, and Brooklyn, OF Buffalo and Chi
cago, of New Orleans and San Francisco, of
Baltimore Cleveland. and Detroit, of Charles.
ton, Savannah, Providence, and Portland and
of other exposed cities on the sea, the gulf,
and the lakes should understand this. Phila-
its situation absolutely safe against attack
by an, enemy's fleet; and Philadelphia.
effort Of Congress to provide for the defense
Of the other cities against the kind of attack to
which they, but not Philadelphia, are expo ed
BY blunder Of Speaker Carlisle the fortihca-
tions and coast defense appropriations were
placed in charge of philadelphia --of Mr.. RAN
dali, her only Democratic representative that
is to say-and faithful to the spirit of his self
ish constituents Of Philadelphia. Mr., Randall
has crushed every attempt to give other cities
which Philadelphia regards as her rivals pro-
tectio against destruction.
That is the situation; whenever Philadel-
phia-selfsh and cold biooded Philadelphia
takes Off her hands the other cities Of the
Union, exposed at any moment to destruction,
may hope to be made secure. Philadelphia,
safe herself against attack, bars the way.